Kids Genius expands, partners with Imam Sadr Foundation

Sabine Kai, founder of Kids Genius and 2014 fellow of Lebanon, opened a second makerspace in southern Lebanon on May 6.

Kids Genius, a makerspace for kids created by 2014 fellow Sabine Kai of Lebanon, has opened a second location in Tyre, Lebanon. The new space is located within the Imam Sadr Foundation’s school, which provides free education for orphans and kids with special needs.

“We have worked together on a model where the Kids Genius program and concept is used by their school and also girls at the foundation can access it for free to empower them in tech fields,” Sabine explained. To help fund the program, “the makerspace is open for external schools to book the workshop and classes for group visits and students who subscribe to our afterschool activities.”

On May 6, 2013 fellow Aseel Honein, also of Lebanon, assisted with the grand opening and contributed to the creation of the space. “Sabine was in need of an architect/designer at a short notice, and I felt like it was a great opportunity to support her,” Aseel said. In 2014, Aseel founded her own architecture and design company. “Our collaboration was truly due to our previous TechWomen experience.”

Sabine is in the process of negotiating the opening of three more Kids Genius centers by creating similar partnerships with schools, municipalities and NGOs. This summer, Sabine is hosting Kids Genius programs in collaboration with summer camps in Lebanon, and in August, she is expanding Kids Genius’ reach with an intercultural tech summer camp in Croatia for teenagers.

“Parents are aware of the consumer behavior that younger generations have, and they value the fact that their kids will learn about technology, learn to ‘make’ at Kids Genius and appreciate efforts made and value things that they use every day.”